I attended my first business retreat in Louisville, KY in April, and what I thought may have been an intimidating experience when I clicked purchase, ended up being an experience that propelled me to the next level in my business.
I got to be in the room with women who are well ahead of me in business — and decades younger than me in age.
It was an honor to learn from them all!
Sold by Structure
I attended Madison Tinder’s Soulful Select Retreat with three other business women, one of which was my own coaching client! I started following Madison only a short time ago and when she announced her retreats (she will host four throughout the year), I fell in love with the way she was structuring them.
I’ve done some window shopping with other retreats and while they all seem great, and very transformational and educational, I was never sold.
As a traveler, I had a hard time with paying for a flight and not actually getting to explore the town I would be visiting. The point of a retreat is, of course, to learn all the things. So it makes sense that you sit in a room for a few days and indeed, learn all the things. But I wanted more! And I didn’t want to have to extend my trip and pay even more money in order to get it.
The Soulful Select Retreat gave me the best of both worlds. There were two full days of education, presentations, a guest speaker, and coaching — but there was also a full day of Louisville fun! Each of Madison’s retreats (all in different destinations) includes a day of exploration, fun and non-business time. That’s what sold me!
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The ladies of Madison Tinder’s Soulful Select April Business Retreat; Photo Courtesy of Ashley Cambron Photography
Business, Bonding, Bourbon
The retreat was amazing! Louisville was cool AF! And making business besties was the bestest! That sums up my experience. It was everything I wanted it to be!
Madison gave several presentations on leadership, branding, business development, visibility, content and launch strategies. We had a fantastic guest speaker, Jen Hartmann of Neat Marketing, who simplified sales for us and gave us actual steps we could implement immediately.
We toured three different bourbon distilleries that were each very different and we learned about the history and creation process of bourbon, while also imbibing of course!
I like bourbon….in cocktails, it turns out. I learned that drinking it straight, even just tiny sips, burns the back of the throat a bit haha. But I still loved every second of the tastings despite the bourbon burn. Kentucky is obviously known for the Kentucky Derby, as well as bourbon, so whenever I get to explore the heart of what a destination is all about, I’m a happy traveler!
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Much like the three varieties of bourbon distilleries we visited, the three other women who attended the retreat alongside me were all vastly different from one another. All four of our personalities and our businesses were opposites. But we instantly bonded! We dove into the depths of each of our businesses probably less than an hour after meeting one another and no one held back. It was pleasantly surprising. It was a breath of fresh air. It was welcoming, warming and wonderful!
Learning from the other women in attendance along with Madison was an added bonus to the weekend that I hadn’t necessarily considered when I made this high ticket purchase.
My favorite part of the retreat was that we each laid out our plans for Q2 based on the goals we want to achieve. We did it as a group brainstorming session and laid out week-by-week what needed to take place in order to reach our goals. Having this plan, now that I’m home and back to running a business solo, is priceless!
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Photo Courtesy of Ashley Cambron Photography
Be in the Room
Add on a fun photoshoot, fantastic food, cool swag, a chic airbnb with exposed brick (who doesn’t love exposed brick!) and in-person connections, and it truly was an amazing experience. I was very nervous to invest in myself and spend the money (money I don’t have if I’m being honest), and be in a room with such high-caliber women. But I don’t regret a penny. I already got my money’s worth and I have no doubt the financial return on my investment is soon to follow.
To quote Madison and Hamilton, “always be in the room!”
Courtesy of Ashley Cambron
When you’re in the room, you immediately up level, grow and expand. It’s inevitable! When you’re in the room with women who are succeeding in their industry, that energy seeps into your soul. If you’re not at the same level as everyone else in the room, you see what’s possible. They did it, so can you! When you’re in the room, you’re learning from their experience, their lessons learned, their expertise. They’ve been there, done it. And you’re in the room to absorb all of it! What an honor!
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The Future is Philly
Someday, I will host my own in-person business retreat, and I intend to structure it with a mix of education and exploration, as well. I have many of the fun details figured out (Rocky steps duh!), but those larger, important details are still being brainstormed. But I do know I will bring women together in a room where the energy vibrates everyone to the next level.
Until the first-ever Philly Go Live Your Story Business Retreat comes to fruition, I will continue to feed off the Soulful Select Retreat energy and use it to grow and expand my coaching business, so I can better help you in YOUR business.
